Israeli Premier Yitzhak Rabin said today his country prefers to reach an interim agreement with Egypt before resuming talks at the Geneva peace conference. Rabin made his comments on CBS’s “Face the Nation” television program this morning following a meeting here with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Rabin declined to comment on the meeting expect to say that the two discussed the sequence of events that would occur whether or not an interim agreement between Egypt and Israel is reached.
Kissinger told the reporters after his unscheduled 90 minute meeting with Rabin that “We have now fully clarified all the positions and the nuances of all the positions beyond any possibility of misunderstanding.”
Rabin said on CBS that an interim agreement would create “a more relaxed atmosphere in the area.” He also said an interim agreement would make it easier for the parties involved to move toward a more lasting “overall” agreement. He said he felt that the more time that passes without war, the better it would be for a more lasting peace.
He said, however, that unless “both sides are forthcoming” there could be no interim agreement. He said the focus on the agreement would be toward settling for elimination the option to use force.
ISRAEL WILL SHOW ‘FLEXIBILITY’
If such an agreement is reached, Rabin said that Israel’s efforts to move toward peace would be continued. He said that Israel would show her “flexibility” by giving up oil fields and other strategic points, although he did not specify which strategic points he meant. The Premier said that to avoid disappointment he didn’t want to see any “dramatic” changes in negotiations, such as shuttle diplomacy, in the near future. “We’ll continue to maintain communications through diplomatic channels,” he said.
Rabin declined to comment on the reassessment of U.S. policy toward the Middle East. But he did say he was “optimistic” about future U.S.-Israeli friendship, despite the suspension of arms negotiations till the end of the U.S. reassessment. But he said he realized that U.S. friendship is not a “carte blanche” to approve everything Israel does. Rabin said Israel has learned under many circumstances that “the defense of Israel depends on us.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
